Bike Camp Gets Special Needs Kids Cycling

Learning to ride a bike can impart a sense of independence and inclusion for individuals with special needs, but many never quite get the hang of it.

The Hoboken Family Alliance, an organization that supports Hoboken families and the community, is working with national non-profit iCanBike to change that.

Next week they'll team up to host the 3rd Annual Hoboken Bike Camp at Hoboken High School to teach kids with special needs to ride a two-wheel bicycle.

The camp, which runs from July 8 to July 12, is open to all families from Hoboken and the surrounding area. Participants must be at least 8 years of age or older. 

Within five days, 80 percent of the kids are able to ride independently, HFA's director for special needs children Theresa Howard said.

Participants progress throughout the week, beginning on bikes equipped with different size rollers in the back to work on balance and comfort riding, and eventually advance until they're able to do it on their own.

Two professional instructors oversee the program and a team of more than 50 volunteers work one-on-one with the participants to get them pedaling independently by week's end. 

In some cases, the program proves just as rewarding for the young volunteers as it does for the participants themselves.

“I had never really worked with individuals with disabilities before and this provided an eye-opening experience to see how important it is for families and our community to provide programs for individuals with special needs,” 17-year-old volunteer Michael Faucher said.

For more information, contact HFA director Theresa Howard at 201-970-8796.